Trump appears to relax de facto oil blockade on Cuba as Russian oil tanker nears island

Trump appears to relax de facto oil blockade on Cuba as Russian oil tanker nears island

Hours prior to a Russian oil tanker’s expected arrival in Cuba, President Donald Trump suggested a willingness to permit oil shipments to the Caribbean nation. This development comes amid an ongoing US-imposed embargo that has restricted oil imports to Cuba, aiming to exert pressure on Havana’s government. Trump’s remarks, delivered during a press briefing on Air Force One, indicated a potential shift in policy: “A country wishing to supply oil to Cuba can do so now, regardless of its origin.”

“If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba, right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not,” Trump stated.

The New York Times reported that the US had approved the Russian vessel’s journey, offering Cuba a critical respite from its energy shortfall. The shipment, aboard the Anatoly Kolodkin, carries 730,000 barrels of crude oil and is poised to dock at Matanzas port if it maintains its course. Analysts note the timing of this allowance, which could alleviate a three-month gap in oil deliveries, leading to gasoline rationing and frequent power outages across the island.

Cuba’s reliance on oil imports has been significantly strained since January, when US forces detained Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, cutting off a major regional supplier. Trump has since escalated pressure by threatening tariffs on any nation sending oil to Cuba and contemplating further measures to “take” the island. However, the decision to let the Russian tanker proceed raises questions about the administration’s strategy amid worsening energy conditions.

Jorge Pinon, an energy sector specialist at the University of Texas at Austin, expressed surprise that the US did not attempt to intercept the vessel before it reached Cuban waters. “Once the ship enters Cuban territory, stopping it becomes nearly impossible,” he remarked. The oil blockade has already prompted emergency fuel conservation efforts, including strict gasoline rationing, which have disrupted public transportation and airline operations.

The Russian shipment could be processed into 250,000 barrels of diesel, sufficient to meet Cuba’s needs for approximately 12.5 days. This relief, however, is seen as a temporary fix to an escalating crisis. With Reuters and Agence France-Presse.